THE Philippines has never won a medal of any color in the Asian Games and that’s what brothers Carlos and Karl Eldrew Yulo are locked in five days ahead of the men’s gymnastics competition of the games’ 20th edition in Nagoya.
They’re not 100 percent locked and loaded just yet, but come the qualifications on Monday at the Nagoya General Gymnasium Rainbow Hall, they’ll peak in time.
‘They’re 70 percent ready in all aspects-physically and mentally,’ Carlos Yulo’s personal trainer and coach Aldrin Castañeda told the BusinessMirror upon their arrival in Nagoya on Wednesday. ‘In fact, they’re happy.’
The closest the Philippines got to the Asian Games podium in men’s gymnastics was in Jakarta 2018, when an inexperienced Carlos Yulo, then 18, wound up fourth in vault.
With two gold medals from the Paris Olympics and a three-time world champion, Carlos Yulo brings to Nagoya the elite aura of a global icon that many expect to be complimented by Karl Eldrew, younger at 18 but already packing two world championships bronze medals and one gold, two silver and one bronze medals from the Asian championships.
The Yulos-with Castañeda and physiotherapists Bethel Solano and Josh Garcia-were in their final training camp at the Tokushukai Gymnastics Club in Kanagawa, Japan, since September 2.
The team had as company who could perhaps be the Yulo’s fiercest rival-Paris 2024 individual all-around gold medalist Shinnosuke Oka of Japan-in Kanagawa.
‘So far so good, his strength stays on the floor exercise and vault,’ said Castañeda of the elder Yulo, who won both apparatus in Paris. ‘The brothers are really working so hard to upgrade and improve their routines in all apparatus.’
Carlos Yulo will compete in all six apparatus in Nagoya-floor exercise, vault, rings, parallel bars, pommel horse and horizontal bar.
Alas Women praised despite loss to China
IN Okazaki, the Alas Pilipinas Women gave China a big scare, but ran out of steam and absorbed an 18-25, 22-25, 8-25 defeat on opening of the volleyball competition at the Okazaki Sogo Park.
Despite the straight-set defeat, Alas Japanese coach Taka Minowa was satisfied with team’s performance.
‘I’m happy,’ he said.
The game only served as a warm-up for the National as they need only to beat the Kazakhstan on Thursday to advance to the knockout stage.
‘Good warm-up for us,’ added Minowa, husband of Filipino star Jaja Santiago.
Drawing inspiration from the support of a small group Filipinos, chanting ‘Pilipinas! Pilipinas!,’ the Nationals fought the Chinese tooth and nail in the second set, but the reigning champions were simply too strong.
The second set was the most exciting part of the game as the Nationals tied the game at 20-all, but Xin Teng joined forces with Zhuang Yushan and 19-year-old Wang Aoqian to end Alas’s spirited comeback.
Tang led China’s assault with 19, including 8 in the second frame while Zhuang and Wang combined for 30 points.
Even local fans cheered for Alas, which got 14 points from Angel Canino and 10 from Eya Laure.
Alyssa Solomon added 9 points while Bella Belen and Shai Nitura were held to one point each, but their efforts did not go to naught as they were wildly applauded.
Even Asian Volleyball Federation President Ramon Suzara was elated with how the Nationals played, describing their performance as ‘Impressive.’ With POC Media Pool